New Eurostat figures show that Ireland (at 89.1%) had the fourth highest dependence on imported energy in the EU after Malta (104.0%), Luxembourg (96.9%), Cyprus (96.4%) in 2013. The EU as a whole was dependent on energy imports for slightly over a half (53%) of its consumption in 2013. The figures also show that, in 2013 EU energy consumption was back to its early 1990s levels and down by 9.1% compared to its peak in 2006. In Ireland, energy consumption in 2013 was up on 1990 levels but ...

  Author: Amanda Gallagher, Easlár, energy and sustainability consultant BREEAM is fast becoming the most popular method in Ireland for assessing environmental impacts of buildings and allowing clients to demonstrate value for money while benchmarking their buildings against others in Europe and worldwide What is BREEAM? BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) is the world's foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings, with 425,000 buildings ...

Author: Paul Hughes; Barrister-at-Law, PhD In Ireland construction disputes are normally resolved by arbitration, conciliation or mediation. On occasion disputes may proceed to litigation. However, pursuant to the provisions of the Construction Contracts Act 2013 adjudication will be introduced into Irish law in the near future and will apply to construction contracts entered into after it becomes law. This will give the parties to a construction contract an alternative method for ...

  Author: Diarmuid O'Briain, MSc, MCGI, BSc (hons), GCGI, CEng, FIEI, FIET, is chief technical officer at Ripple Communications Ltd enet launched a fibre direct Open Access Network pilot programme with the aim of delivering Fibre To The Business (FTTB) to Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) in selected Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) towns. As enet holds concessions on 94 MANs across the country the potential to deliver a fibre direct service to enable SMEs is compelling. To trial the ...

  Dr Jimmy Murphy, senior researcher at Beaufort, UCC Ireland’s long and varied coastline ranges from high rocky cliffs that can resist Atlantic waves to sandy beaches that seem to change with every tide. Many of our most beautiful landscapes are by the coast and it is largely unspoiled and rich in biodiversity. A large proportion of our population live there and it is the interface through which most goods enter and leave the country. Global coastlines are coming under increased ...

  Author: John G Munro BE BSc C Eng, consulting engineer The European Commission has issued a regulation to all member states in relation to construction products, which is known as the Construction Products Regulation 305/2011 and totally replace the Construction Products Directive 89/106/EEC. Issuing a regulation, which has a direct effect and is directly applicable to those people[1] or groups of people who it is intended for, is unusual, unlike the issue of a directive, where ...